Studies on colostral and milk whey proteins in the sow 1. The transition of mammary secretion from colostrum to milk with natural suckling

Abstract

SUMMARYA dramatic fall in the colostral whey proteins of nine sows occurred within 24 hr following the birth of the first piglet. The mean levels fell from 19·6 g/100 ml to 4·1 g/100 ml, 50% of this fall occurring within 4 to 6 hr. It is suggested that as early-born piglets will be able to obtain colostrum of a much higher protein concentration this may give them some physiological and immunological advantages over later-born littermates.